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ENGINEERING 
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BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  AND  THE  FIRST  BALLOONS, 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 

Pacific  Aeronautical  Library 


Benjamin  Franklin  and 
the  First  Balloons 


BY 


ABBOTT  LAWRENCE  ROTCH 


DISCARDED  W_I 


PAL. 


Benjamin  Franklin  and 
the  First  Balloons 

BY 
ABBOTT  LAWRENCE  ROTCH 


REPRINTED  FROM  THE 

PROCEEDINGS   OF   THE    AMERICAN    ANTIQUARIAN    SOCIETY 
/  VOLUME    XVIII 


OF  THE 
PACIFIC  AERONAUTICAL  I 

D'SC/IRDED  ey_ PAL 


WORCESTER,    MASSACHUSETTS 

THE    DAVIS    PRESS 

1907 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  AND  THE  FIRST 
BALLOONS. 

BY   ABBOTT   LAWRENCE   ROTCH. 


The  recent  bi-centenary  of  Franklin's  birth,  which  coin- 
cided with  the  revival  of  interest  in  balloons,  makes  this  a 
timely  topic,  especially  since  Franklin's  descriptions  of  the 
first  balloon  ascensions  are  almost  unknown  and  do  not 
appear  among  his  philosophical  papers.  The  five  letters 
which  I  have  the  honor  to  present  were  written  to  Sir 
Joseph  Banks,  President  of  the  Royal  Society  of  London,  in 
1783,  when  Franklin  was  Minister  to  the  Court  of  France 
and,  with  the  collateral  documents,  they  give  perhaps  the 
most  complete  and  accurate  account  of  the  beginning  of 
aerial  navigation,  enlivened  with  the  humor  and  speculation 
characteristic  of  the  writer.  It  is  certainly  remarkable 
that  Franklin,  in  the  midst  of  diplomatic  and  social  duties, 
could  have  found  time  to  investigate  personally  this  new 
invention  of  which  he  at  once  appreciated  the  possibilities. 

The  documents  which  I  publish  are  copies  of  Franklin's 
letters,  made  on  thin  paper  in  a  copying  press  (probably 
the  rotary  machine  invented  by  Franklin),  and  all  but  one 
bear  his  signature  in  ink.  They  have  corrections  in  the 
author's  hand-writing  and,  except  for  a  few  words,  are 
quite  legible.  They  were  purchased  by  me  from  Dodd, 
Mead  &  Co.,  in  December,  1905,  and  previously  had  belonged 
to  G.  M.  Williamson,  of  Grandview-on-the-Hudson,  to 
whom  they  had  come  from  Vienna.  None  of  the  letters 
appear  in  Sparks'  edition  of  Franklin's  Works,  and  while 
all  but  one  are  included  in  the  collections  compiled  by 
Bigelow  and  Smyth,  there  are  numerous  inaccuracies,  some 
of  which  will  be  specified  hereafter.  Drafts  of  three  of  the 


letters  are  deposited  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  the  existence  of  one  letter  and  the  whereabouts  of 
another  were  unknown  to  the  late  Mr.  Smyth,,  the  editor 
of  the  last  and  most  complete  edition  of  Franklin's  Works,1 
who  made  careful  search  for  the  original  documents. 
Although  the  American  owners  of  these  copies  did  not  allow 
them  to  be  transcribed,  Mr.  Smyth  states  that  he  printed  one 
letter  from  my  copy,  and  he  noted  how  the  other  copies  diff- 
ered from  the  drafts  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
general  it  may  be  said  that,  whereas  Bigelow  gives  the  text 
without  paragraphs,  capital  letters  or  the  old  spelling,2 
Smyth  follows  the  originals  more  closely.  In  view  of  the 
historic  and  scientific  interest  of  these  letters,  they  are  now 
printed  exactly  according  to  the  press-copies.  The  letter 
dated  November  30,  appears  never  to  have  been  printed 
and  whereas  Smyth  reproduced  the  letter  of  November  21 
from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  draft,  this  or  another 
draft  (or  possibly  this  copy)  was  in  the  possession  of  the 
French  aeronaut,  Gaston  Tissandier,  about  1887.3 


(THE  FIRST  HYDROGEN  BALLOON.) 

PASSY,  Aug.  30,  1783. 
SIR, 

On  Wednesday,  the  27th  Instant  the  new  aerostatic  Experi- 
ment, invented  by  Mess".  Montgolfier,  of  Annonay,  was 
repeated  by  M.  Charles,  Professor  of  experimental  Philosophy 
at  Paris. 

A  hollow  Globe  12  feet  Diameter  was  formed  of  what 
is  called  in  England  Oiled  Silk,  here  Taffetas  g&mme, 
the  Silk  being  impregnated  with  a  Solution  of  Gum  elastic 
in  Lintseed  Oil,  as  is  said.  The  Parts  were  sewed  together 
while  wet  with  the  Gum,  and  some  of  it  was  afterwards 
passed  over  the  Seams,  to  render  it  as  tight  as  possible. 

It  was  afterwards  filled  with  the  inflammable  Air  that 
is  produced  by  pouring  Oil  of  Vitriol  upon  Filings  of  Iron, 
when  it  was  found  to  have  a  tendency  upwards  so  strong  as  to 

1  The  Writings  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  collected  and  edited   by  Albert  Henry 
Smyth,  Volume  IX,  New  York,  1906. 

2  Complete  Works  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  compiled  and  edited  by  John  Bigelow, 
Volume  VIII,  New  York.  1888. 

8  Histoire  des  Ballons,  Paris,  1887,  Volume  I,  page  29. 


be  capable  of  lifting  a  Weight  of  39  Pounds,  exclusive  of 
its  own  Weight  which  was  25  Ibs.  and  the  Weight  of  the 
Air  contain'd. 

It  was  brought  early  in  the  morning  to  the  Champ  de 
Mars,  a  Field  in  which  Reviews  are  sometimes  made, 
lying  between  the  Military  School  and  the  River.  There 
it  was  held  down  by  a  Cord  till  5  in  the  afternoon,  when  it 
was  to  be  let  loose.  Care  was  taken  before  the  Hour  to 
replace  what  Portion  had  been  lost,  of  the  inflammable 
Air,  or  of  its  Force,  by  injecting  more. 

It  is  supposed  that  not  less  than  50,000  People  were 
assembled  to  see  the  Experiment.  The  Champ  de  Mars 
being  surrounded  by  Multitudes,  and  vast  Numbers  on  the 
opposite  Side  of  the  River. 

At  5  aClock  Notice  was  given  to  the  Spectators  by  the 
Firing  of  two  Cannon,  that  the  Cord  was  about  to  be  cut. 
And  presently  the  Globe  was  seen  to  rise,  and  that  as  fast 
as  a  Body  of  12  feet  Diameter,  with  a  force  only  of  39 
Pounds,  could  be  suppos'd  to  move  the  resisting  Air  out 
of  its  Way.  There  was  some  Wind,  but  not  very  strong. 
A  little  Rain  had  wet  it,  so  that  it  shone,  and  made  an 
agreeable  Appearance.  It  diminished  in  Apparent  Magni- 
tude as  it  rose,  till  it  enter'd  the  Clouds,  when  it  seem'd 
to  me  scarce  bigger  than  an  Orange,  and  soon  after  became 
invisible,  the  Clouds  concealing  it. 

The  Multitude  separated,  all  well  satisfied  and  delighted 
with  the  Success  of  the  Experiment,  and  amusing  one 
another  with  discourses  of  the  various  uses  it  may  possibly 
be  apply'd  to,  among  which  many  were  very  extravagant. 
But  possibly  it  may  pave  the  Way  to  some  Discoveries 
in  Natural  Philosophy  of  which  at  present  we  have  no 
Conception. 

A  Note  secur'd  from  the  Weather  had  been  affix'd  to  the 
Globe,  signifying  the  Time  &  Place  of  its  Departure,  and 
praying  those  who  might  happen  to  find  it,  to  send  an  account 
of  its  State  to  certain  Persons  at  Paris.  No  News  was 
heard  of  it  till  the  next  Day,  when  Information  was  reeeiv'd, 
that  it  fell  a  little  after  6  aClock,  at  Gonesse,  a  Place  about 
4  Leagues  Distance,  and  that  it  was  rent  open,  and  some  say 
had  Ice  in  it.  It  is  suppos'd  to  have  burst  by  the  Elasticity 
of  the  contain'd  Air  when  no  longer  compress'd  by  so 
heavy  an  Atmosphere. 


6 

One  of  38  feet  Diameter  is  preparing  by  Mr.  Montgolfier 
himself,  at  the  Expence  of  the  Academy,  which  is  to  go 
up  in  a  few  Days.  I  am  told  it  is  constructed  of  Linen  & 
Paper,  and  is  to  be  filled  with  a  different  Air,  not  yet  made 
Public,  but  cheaper  than  that  produc'd  by  the  Oil  of  Vitriol, 
of  which  200  Paris  Pints  were  consum'd  in  filling  the  other. 
It  is  said  that  for  some  Days  after  its  being  filled,  the  Ball 
was  found  to  lose  an  eighth  Part  of  its  Force  of  Levity 
in  24  Hours;  Whether  this  was  from  Imperfection  in  the 
Tightness  of  the  Ball,  or  a  Change  in  the  Nature  of  the 
Air,  Experiments  may  easily  discover. 

I  thought  it  my  Duty,  Sir,  to  send  an  early  Account  of 

this  extraordinary  Fact,  to  the  Society  which  does  me  the 

honour  to  reckon  me  among  its  Members;  and  I  will  endeavour 

to  make  it  more  perfect,  as  I  receive  farther  Information. 

With  great  Respect,  I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient 

and  most  humble  Servant 

B.  FRANKLIN 
Sm  JOSEPH  BANKS,  Bar*. 

P.  S.  Since  writing  the  above,  I  am  favour'd  with  your 
kind  Letter  of  the  25th.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the 
Care  you  have  taken  to  forward  the  Transactions,  as  well 
as  to  the  Council  for  so  readily  ordering  them  on  Applica- 
tion. Please  to  accept  and  present  my  Thanks. 

I  just  now  learn,  that  some  observers  say,  the  Ball  was 
150  Seconds  in  rising,  from  the  Cutting  of  the  Cord  till  hid 
in  the  Clouds;  that  its  height  was  then  about  500  Toises, 
but,  being  moved  out  of  the  Perpendicular  by  the  Wind, 
it  had  made  a  Slant  so  as  to  form  a  Triangle,  whose  Base 
on  the  Earth  was  about  200  Toises.  It  is  said  the  Country 
People  who  saw  it  fall  were  frightned,  conceiv'd  from  its 
bounding  a  little,  when  it  touched  the  Ground,  that  there 
was  some  living  Animal  hi  it,  and  attack'd  it  with  Stones 
and  Knives,  so  that  it  was  much  mangled;  but  it  is  now 
brought  to  Town  and  will  be  repaired. 

The  great  one  of  M.  Montgolfier,  is  to  go  up,  as  is  said, 
from  Versailles,  in  about  8  or  10  Days;  It  is  not  a  Globe 
but  of  a  different  Form,  more  convenient  for  penetrating 
the  Air.  It  contains  50,000  cubic  Feet,  and  is  supposed 
to  have  Force  of  Levity  equal  to  1500  pounds  weight. 
A  Philosopher  here,  M.  Pilatre  du  Rozier  has  seriously 


apply'd  to  the  Academy  for  leave  to  go  up  with  it,  in  order 
to  make  some  Experiments.  He  was  complimented  on  his 
Zeal  and  Courage  for  the  Promotion  of  Science,  but  advis'd 
to  wait  till  the  management  of  these  Balls  was  made  by 
Experience  more  certain  &  safe.  They  say  the  filling  of 
it  in  M.  Montgolfier's  Way  will  not  cost  more  than  half  a 
Crown.  One  is  talk'd  of  to  be  110  feet  Diameter.  Several 
Gentlemen  have  ordered  small  ones  to  be  made  for  their 
Amusement.  One  has  ordered  four  of  15  feet  Diameter 
each;  I  know  not  with  what  Purpose;  But  such  is  the 
present  Enthusiasm  for  promoting  and  improving  this 
Discovery,  that  probably  we  shall  soon  make  consid- 
erable Progress  in  the  art  of  constructing  and  using  the 
Machines. 

Among  the  Pleasanteries  Conversation  produces  on  this 
Subject,  some  suppose  Flying  to  be  now  invented,  and 
that  since  Men  may  be  supported  in  the  Air,  nothing  is 
wanted  but  some  light  handy  Instruments  to  give  and  direct 
Motion.  Some  think  Progressive  Motion  on  the  Earth 
may  be  advanc'd  by  it,  and  that  a  Running  Footman  or 
a  Horse  slung  and  suspended  under  such  a  Globe  so  as  to 
have  no  more  of  Weight  pressing  the  Earth  with  their  Feet, 
than  Perhaps  8  or  10  Pounds,  might  with  a  fair 
Wind  run  in  a  straight  Line  across  Countries  as  fast  as 
that  Wind,  and  over  Hedges,  Ditches  &  even  Waters.  It 
has  been  even  fancied  that  in  time  People  will  keep  such 
Globes  anchored  in  the  Air,  to  which  by  Pullies  they  may 
draw  up  Game  to  be  preserved  in  the  Cool  &  Water  to  be 
frozen  when  Ice  is  wanted.  And  that  to  get  Money,  it 
will  be  contrived  to  give  People  an  extensive  View  of  the 
Country,  by  running  them  up  in  an  Elbow  Chair  a  Mile 
high  for  a  Guinea  &c.  &c. 

B.  F. 

(A  HOT  AIR  BALLOON  CARRYING  ANIMALS.) 

PASSY,  Oct.  8,  1783. 
SIR 

The  Publick  were  promised  a  printed  particular  Account 
of  the  Rise  &  Progress  of  the  Balloon  Invention,  to  be 
published  about  the  End  of  last  month.  I  waited  for  it 
to  send  it  to  you,  expecting  it  would  be  more  satisfactory 
han  anything  I  could  write;  but  it  does  not  appear.  We 


8 

have  only  at  present  the  enclosed  Pamphlet,  which  does 
not  answer  the  expectation  given  us.  I  send  you  with  it 
some  prints.  That  of  the  Balloon  raised  at  Versailles  is 
said  to  be  an  exact  representation.  I  was  not  present, 
but  am  told  it  was  filled  in  about  ten  minutes  by  means 
of  burning  Straw.  Some  say  water  was  thrown  into  the 
flame,  others  that  it  was  Spirits  of  Sal  Volatile.  It  was 
supposed  to  have  risen  about  200  Toises :  But  did  not  con- 
tinue long  at  that  height,  was  carried  horizontally  by  the 
Wind,  and  descended  gently  as  the  Air  within  grew 
cooler.  So  vast  a  Bulk  when  it  began  to  rise  so  majes- 
tically in  the  Air  struck  the  spectators  with  surprise 
and  Admiration.  The  Basket  contained  a  sheep,  a 
duck,  and  a  Cock,  who,  except  the  Cock,  received  no  hurt 
by  the  fall. 

The  Duke  de  Crillon  made  a  feast  last  week  in  the  Bois 
de  Boulogne,  just  by  my  habitation,  on  occasion  of  the 
Birth  of  two  Spanish  Princes;  after  the  Fireworks  we  had 
a  Balloon  of  about  5  feet  Diameter  filled  with  permanent 
inflammable  Air.  It  was  dismissed  about  One  aClock  in 
the  Morning.  It  carried  under  it  a  large  Lanthorn  with 
inscriptions  on  its  sides.  The  Night  was  quite  calm  and 
clear,  so  that  it  went  right  up.  The  appearance  of  the  light 
diminished  gradually  till  it  appeared  no  bigger  than  one 
of  the  Stars,  and  in  about  twenty  minutes  I  lost  sight  of 
it  entirely.  It  fell  the  next  Day  on  the  other  side  of  the 
same  Wood  near  the  Village  Boulogne,  about  half  after 
twelve,  having  been  suspended  in  the  Air  eleven  hours 
and  a  half.  It  lodged  in  a  tree,  and  was  torn  in  getting  it 
down;  so  that  it  cannot  be  ascertained  whether  it  burst 
when  above,  or  not,  tho'  that  is  supposed.  Smaller  Repe- 
titions of  the  Experiment  are  making  every  day  in  all 
quarters.  Some  of  the  larger  Balloons  that  have  been  up 
are  preparing  to  be  sent  up  again  in  a  few  Days;  but  I  do 
not  hear  of  any  material  improvements  yet  made  either 
in  the  mechanical  or  Chemical  parts  of  the  Operation. 
Most  is  expected  from  the  new  one  undertaken  upon  sub- 
scription by  Messieurs  Charles  and  Robert,  who  are  Men  of 
Science  and  mechanic  Dexterity.  It  is  to  carry  up  a 
Man.  I  send  you  enclosed  the  Proposals,  which  it  is  said 
are  already  subscribed  to  by  a  considerable  number  and 
likely  to  be  carried  into  execution.  If  I  am  well  at  the 


9 

Time,  I  purpose  to  be  present,  being  a  subscriber  myself, 
and  shall  send  you  an  exact  Account  of  Particulars. 
With  great  esteem  and  respect,  for  yourself  and  the  Society; 
I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
Sir, 

Your  most  obedient 
&  most  humble  Servant, 

B.  FRANKLIN 
SIR  JOSEPH  BANKS,  Bar1. 


(THE  FIRST  AERIAL  VOYAGE  BY  MAN.) 

PASSY,  Nov1  218t,  1783 
DEAR  SIR, 

I  received  your  friendly  Letter  of  the  7th  Inst.  I  am 
glad  my  Letters  respecting  the  Aerostatic  Experiment 
were  not  unacceptable.  But  as  more  perfect  Accounts  of 
the  Construction  and  Management  of  that  Machine  have 
been  and  will  be  published  before  your  Transactions,  and 
from  which  Extracts  may  be  made  that  will  be  more  par- 
ticular and  therefore  more  satisfactory,  I  think  it  best  not 
to  print  those  Letters.  I  say  this  in  answer  to  your  Question; 
for  I  did  not  indeed  write  them  with  a  view  of  their  being 
inserted.  Mr.  Faujas  de  St.  Fond  acquainted  me  yesterday 
that  a  Book  on  the  Subject  which  has  been  long  expected, 
will  be  publish 'd  in  a  few  Days,  and  I  shall  send  you  one  of 
them.  Enclosed  is  a  Copy  of  the  Proces  verbal  taken  of 
the  Experiment  made  yesterday  in  the  Garden  of  the 
Queen's  Palace  la  Muette  where  the  Dauphin  now  resides 
which  being  near  my  House  I  was  present.  This  Paper 
was  drawn  up  hastily,  and  may  in  some  Places  appear  to 
you  obscure;  therefore  I  shall  add  a  few  explanatory  Obser- 
vations. 

This  Balloon  was  larger  than  that  which  went  up  from 
Versailles  and  carried  the  Sheep,  &c.  Its  bottom  was  open, 
and  in  the  middle  of  the  Opening  was  fixed  a  kind  of  Basket 
Grate  in  which  Faggots  and  Sheaves  of  Straw  were  burnt. 
The  Air  rarified  in  passing  thro'  this  Flame  rose  in  the 
Balloon,  swell'd  out  its  sides,  and  fill'd  it. 

The  Persons  who  were  plac'd  in  the  Gallery  made  of 
Wicker,  and  attached  to  the  Outside  near  the  Bottom, 
had  each  of  them  a  Port  thro'  which  they  could  pass  Sheaves 
of  Straw  into  the  Grate  to  keep  up  the  Flame,  &  thereby 


10 

keep  the  Balloon  full.  When  it  went  over  our  Heads,  we 
could  see  the  Fire  which  was  very  considerable.  As  the 
Flame  slackens,  the  rarified  Air  cools  and  condenses,  the 
Bulk  of  the  Balloon  diminishes  and  it  begins  to  descend. 
If  those  in  the  Gallery  see  it  likely  to  descend  in  an  improper 
Place,  they  can  by  throwing  on  more  Straw,  &  renewing  the 
Flame,  make  it  rise  again,  and  the  Wind  carries  it  farther. 

La  Machine  poussee  par  le  Vent  s'est  dirigee  sur  une  des 
AlUes  du  Jardin.  That  is  against  the  Trees  of  one  of  the 
Walks.  The  Gallery  hitched  among  the  top  Boughs  of  those 
Trees  which  had  been  cut  and  were  stiff  while  the  Body  of 
the  Balloon  lean'd  beyond  and  seemed  likely  to  overset.  I 
was  then  in  great  Pain  for  the  Men,  thinking  them  in  danger 
of  being  thrown  out,  or  burnt  for  I  expected  that  the  Bal- 
loon being  no  longer  upright  the  Flame  would  have  laid 
hold  of  the  inside  that  leaned  over  it.  But  by  means  of 
some  Cords  that  were  still  attach'd  to  it,  it  was  soon  brought 
upright  again,  made  to  descend,  &  carried  back  to  its  place. 
It  was  however  much  damaged. 

Planant  sur  I'Horizon.  When  they  were  as  high  as  they 
chose  to  be,  they  made  less  Flame  and  suffered  the  Machine 
to  drive  Horizontally  with  the  Wind,  of  which  however 
they  felt  very  little,  as  they  went  with  it,  and  as  fast.  They 
say  they  had  a  charming  View  of  Paris  &  its  Environs, 
the  Course  of  the  River,  &c  but  that  they  were  once  lost,  not 
knowing  what  Part  they  were  over,  till  they  saw  the  Dome 
of  the  Invalids,  which  rectified  their  Ideas.  Probably 
while  they  were  employed  in  keeping  up  the  Fire,  the  Machine 
might  turn,  and  by  that  means  they  were  desorientes  as 
the  French  call  it. 

There  was  a  vast  Concourse  of  Gentry  in  the  Garden, 
who  had  great  Pleasure  in  seeing  the  Adventurers  go  off 
so  chearfully,  &  applauded  them  by  clapping  &c.  but  there 
was  at  the  same  time  a  good  deal  of  Anxiety  for  their  Safety. 
Multitudes  in  Paris  saw  the  Balloon  passing;  but  did  not 
know  there  were  Men  with  it,  it  being  then  so  high  that 
they  could  not  see  them. 

Developpant  du  Gaz.  That  is,  in  plain  English,  burning 
more  straw;  for  tho'  there  is  a  little  Mystery  made,  concerning 
the  kind  of  Air  with  which  the  Balloon  is  filled,  I  conceive 
it  to  be  nothing  more  than  hot  Smoke  or  common  Air 
rarify'd,  tho'  in  this  I  may  be  mistaken. 


11 

Aiant  encor  dans  lew  Galerie  le  deux  tiers  de  leur  Appro- 
vissonement.  That  is  their  Provision  of  Straw;  of  which 
they  carried  up  a  great  Quantity.  It  was  well  that  in  the 
hurry  of  so  hazardous  an  Experiment,  the  Flame  did  not 
happen  by  any  accidental  Mismanagement  to  lay  hold 
of  this  Straw;  tho'  each  had  a  Bucket  of  Water  by  him,  by 
Way  of  Precaution. 

One  of  these  courageous  Philosophers,  the  Marquis 
d'Arlandes,  did  me  the  honour  to  call  upon  me  in  the  Even- 
ing after  the  Experiment,  with  Mr.  Montgolfier  the  very 
ingenious  Inventor.  I  was  happy  to  see  him  safe.  He 
informed  me  that  they  lit  gently  without  the  least  Shock, 
and  the  Balloon  was  very  little  damaged. 

This  Method  of  filling  the  Balloon  with  hot  Air  is  cheap 
and  expeditious,  and  it  is  supposed  may  be  sufficient  for 
certain  purposes,  such  as  elevating  an  Engineer  to  take  a 
View  of  an  Enemy's  Army,  Works,  &c.  conveying  Intelli- 
gence into,  or  out  of  a  besieged  Town,  giving  Signals  to 
distant  Places,  or  the  like. 

The  other  Method  of  filling  a  Balloon  with  permanently 
elastic  inflammable  Air,  and  then  closing  it  is  a  tedious 
Operation,  and  very  expensive;  Yet  we  are  to  have  one  of 
that  kind  sent  up  in  a  few  Days.  It  is  a  Globe  of  26  feet 
diameter.  The  Gores  that  compose  it  are  red  and  white 
Silk,  so  that  it  makes  a  beautiful  appearance.  A  very  hand- 
some triumphal  Car  will  be  suspended  to  it,  in  which  Mess". 
Robert  two  Brothers,  very  ingenious  Men,  who  have 
made  it  in  concert  with  Mr.  Charles  propose  to  go  up.  There 
is  room  in  this  Car  for  a  little  Table  to  be  placed  between 
them,  on  which  they  can  write  and  keep  their  Journal, 
that  is  take  Notes  of  every  thing  they  observe,  the  State 
of  their  Thermometer,  Barometer,  Hygrometer,  &c  which 
they  will  have  more  Leisure  to  do  than  the  others, 
having  no  fire  to  take  Care  of.  They  say  they  have 
a  contrivance  which  will  enable  them  to  descend  at 
Pleasure.  I  know  not  what  it  is.  But  the  Expence  of 
this  Machine,  Filling  included,  will  exceed,  it  is  said, 
10,000  Livres. 

This  Balloon  of  only  26  feet  diameter  being  filled  with 
Air  ten  times  lighter  than  common  Air,  will  carry  up  a 
greater  Weight  than  the  other,  which  tho'  vastly  bigger 
was  filled  with  an  Air  that  could  scarcely  be  more  than 


12 

twice  as  light.  Thus  the  great  Bulk  of  one  of  these 
Machines,  with  the  short  duration  of  its  Power,  &  the 
great  Expence  of  filling  the  other  will  prevent  the  Inven- 
tions being  of  so  much  Use,  as  some  may  expect,  till 
Chemistry  can  invent  a  cheaper  light  Air  producible  with 
more  Expedition. 

But  the  Emulation  between  the  two  Parties  running 
high,  the  Improvement  in  the  Construction  and  Manage- 
ment of  the  Balloons  has  already  made  a  rapid  Pro- 
gress; and  one  cannot  say  how  far  it  may  go.  A 
few  Months  since  the  Idea  of  Witches  riding  thro'  the 
Air  upon  a  Broomstick,  and  that  of  Philosophers  upon 
a  Bag  of  Smoke,  would  have  appeared  equally  impossible 
and  ridiculous. 

These  Machines  must  always  be  subject  to  be  driven  by 
the  Winds.  Perhaps  Mechanic  Art  may  find  easy  means 
to  give  them  progressive  Motion  in  a  Calm,  and  to  slant 
them  a  little  in  the  Wind. 

I  am  sorry  this  Experiment  is  totally  neglected  in  England 
where  mechanic  Genius  is  so  strong.  I  wish  I  could  see 
the  same  Emulation  between  the  two  Nations  as  I  see 
between  the  two  Parties  here.  Your  Philosophy  seems 
to  be  too  bashful.  In  this  Country  we  are  not  so  much 
afraid  of  being  laugh t  at.  If  we  do  a  foolish  thing,  we 
are  the  first  to  laugh  at  it  ourselves,  and  are  almost  as  much 
pleased  with  a  Bon  Mot  or  a  good  Chanson,  that  ridicules  well 
the  Disappointment  of  a  Project,  as  we  might  have  been 
with  its  Success.  It  does  not  seem  to  me  a  good  reason  to 
decline  prosecuting  a  new  Experiment  which  apparently 
increases  the  Power  of  Man  over  Matter,  till  we  can  see  to 
what  Use  that  Power  may  be  applied.  When  we  have 
learnt  to  manage  it,  we  may  hope  some  time  or  other  to 
find  Uses  for  it,  as  Men  have  done  for  Magnetism  and 
Electricity  of  which  the  first  Experiments  were  mere 
Matters  of  Amusement. 

This  Experience  is  by  no  means  a  trifling  one.  It  may  be 
attended  with  important  Consequences  that  no  one  can  fore- 
see. We  should  not  suffer  Pride  to  prevent  our  progress  in 
Science.  Beings  of  a  Rank  and  Nature  far  superior  to  ours 
have  not  disdained  to  amuse  themselves  with  making  and 
launching  Balloons,  otherwise  we  should  never  have  enjoyed 
the  Light  of  those  glorious  objects  that  rule  our  Day  &  Night, 


13 

nor  have  had  the  Pleasure  of  riding  round  the  Sun  ourselves 
upon  the  Balloon  we  now  inhabit. 
With  great  and  sincere  Esteem,  I  am, 

Dear  Sir, 
Your  most  obed* 

&  most  humble  Servant, 

B.  FRANKLIN 
Sir  JOSEPH  BANKS. 


(POSTPONEMENT  OF  CHARLES'  AND  ROBERT'S 
ASCENSION.) 

PASSY,  Nov.  30,  1783 
DEAR  SIR, 

I  did  myself  the  honour  of  writing  to  you  the  Beginning 
of  last  Week,  and  I  sent  you  by  the  Courier,  M.  Faujas's 
Book  upon  the  Balloons,  which  I  hope  you  have  receiv'd. 
I  did  hope  to  have  given  you  to  day  an  Account  of  Mr. 
Charles's  grand  Balloon,  which  was  to  have  gone  up  yester- 
day; but  the  filling  it  with  inflammable  Air  having  taken 
more  time  than  had  been  calculated,  it  is  deferr'd  till  to- 
morrow. I  send  you  herewith  a  Paper  in  which  you  will 
see  what  was  proposed  by  Mess18  Robert  who  constructed 
the  Machine;  and  some  other  Papers  relative  to  the  same 
Subject,  the  last  of  which  is  curious,  as  containing  the  Journal 
of  the  first  Aerial  Voyage  performed  by  Man. — I  purpose 
being  present  to-morrow  at  the  Experiment,  and  shall 
give  you  an  Ace*  of  it  by  the  Wednesday's  Post.  With 
sincere  &  great  Esteem,  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
Sir,  Your  most  obed1  humble  Serv* 

B.  FRANKLIN 
Sir  Jos.  BANKS,  Bar*. 


(THE  SECOND  AERIAL  VOYAGE  BY  MAN.) 

PASSY,  Dec.  1,  1783. 
DEAR  SIR, 

In  mine  of  yesterday,  I  promis'd  to  give  you  an  Account 
of  Mess".  Charles  &  Robert's  Experiment,  which  was  to 
have  been  made  at  this  Day,  and  at  which  I  intended  to 
be  present.  Being  a  little  indispos'd,  &  the  Air  cool,  and 
the  Ground  damp,  I  declin'd  going  into  the  Garden  of  the 
Tuilleries  where  the  Balloon  was  plac'd,  not  knowing  how 


14 

long  I  might  be  oblig'd  to  wait  there  before  it  was  ready 
to  depart;  and  chose  to  stay  in  my  Carriage  near  the  Statue 
of  Louis  XV.  from  whence  I  could  well  see  it  rise,  &  have 
an  extensive  View  of  the  Region  of  Air  thro'  which,  as  the 
Wind  sat,  it  was  likely  to  pass.  The  Morning  was  foggy, 
but  about  one  aClock,  the  Air  became  tolerably  clear,  to 
the  great  Satisfaction  of  the  Spectators,  who  were  infinite, 
Notice  having  been  given  of  the  intended  Experiment 
several  Days  before  in  the  Papers,  so  that  all  Paris  was  out, 
either  about  the  Tuilleries,  on  the  Quays  &  Bridges,  in 
the  Fields,  the  Streets,  at  the  Windows,  or  on  the  Tops  of 
Houses,  besides  the  Inhabitants  of  all  the  Towns  &  Villages 
of  the  Environs.  Never  before  was  a  philosophical  Experiment 
so  magnificently  attended.  Some  Guns  were  fired  to  give 
Notice,  that  the  Departure  of  the  great  Balloon  was  near, 
and  a  small  one  was  discharg'd  which  went  to  an  amazing 
Height,  there  being  but  little  Wind  to  make  it  deviate  from 
its  perpendicular  Course,  and  at  length  the  Sight  of  it  was 
lost.  Means  were  used,  I  am  told,  to  prevent  the  great 
Balloon's  rising  so  high  as  might  indanger  its  Bursting. 
Several  Bags  of  Sand  were  taken  on  board  before  the  Cord 
that  held  it  down  was  cut,  and  the  whole  Weight  being 
then  too  much  to  be  lifted,  such  a  Quantity  was  discharg'd 
as  to  permit  its  Rising  slowly.  Thus  it  would  sooner  arrive 
at  that  Region  where  it  would  be  in  Equilibrio  with  the  sur- 
rounding Air,  and  by  discharging  more  Sand  afterwards, 
it  might  go  higher  if  desired.  Between  One  &  Two  aClock, 
all  Eyes  were  gratified  with  seeing  it  rise  majestically  from 
among  the  Trees,  and  ascend  gradually  above  the  Buildings, 
a  most  beautiful  Spectacle!  When  it  was  about  200  feet 
high,  the  brave  Adventurers  held  out  and  wav'd  a  little 
white  Pennant,  on  both  Sides  their  Carr,  to  salute  the  Specta- 
tors, who  return'd  loud  Claps  of  Applause.  The  Wind 
was  very  little,  so  that  the  Object,  tho'  moving  to  the  North- 
ward, continued  long  in  View;  and  it  was  a  great  while  before 
the  admiring  People  began  to  disperse.  The  Persons 
embark'd  were  Mr.  Charles,  Professor  of  Experimental 
Philosophy,  &  a  zealous  Promoter  of  that  Science;  and  one 
of  the  Messieurs  Robert,  the  very  ingenious  Constructors  of 
the  Machine.  When  it  arrived  at  its  height,  which  I  sup- 
pose might  be  3  or  400  Toises,  it  appeared  to  have  only 
horizontal  Motion.  I  had  a  Pocket  Glass,  with  which  I 


15 

follow'd  it,  till  I  lost  Sight,  first  of  the  Men,  then  of  the 
Car,  and  when  I  last  saw  the  Balloon,  it  appear'd  no  bigger 
than  a  Walnut.  I  write  this  at  7  in  the  Evening.  What 
became  of  them  is  not  yet  known  here.  I  hope  they 
descended  by  Day-light,  so  as  to  see  &  avoid  falling 
among  Trees  or  on  Houses,  and  that  the  Experiment  was 
completed  without  any  mischievous  Accident  which  the 
Novelty  of  it  &  the  want  of  Experience  might  well  occasion. 
I  am  the  more  anxious  for  the  Event,  because  I  am  not 
well  inform'd  of  the  Means  provided  for  letting  themselves 
gently  down,  and  the  Loss  of  these  very  ingenious  Men 
would  not  only  be  a  Discouragement  to  the  Progress  of 
the  Art,  but  be  a  sensible  Loss  to  Science  and  Society. 

I  shall  inclose  one  of  the  Tickets  of  Admission,  on  which 
the  Globe  was  represented,  as  originally  intended,  but  is 
altered  by  the  Pen  to  show  its  real  State  when  it  went  off. 
When  the  Tickets  were  engraved,  the  Car  was  to  have  been 
hung  to  the  Neck  of  the  Globe,  as  represented  by  a  little 
Drawing  I  have  made  in  the  Corner  A.  I  suppose  it  may 
have  been  an  Apprehension  of  Danger  in  straining  too 
much  the  Balloon  or  tearing  the  Silk,  that  induc'd  the 
Constructors  to  throw  a  Net  over  it,  fix'd  to  a  Hoop  which 
went  round  its  Middle,  and  to  hang  the  Car  to  that  Hoop, 
as  you  see  in  Fig.  B. 

Tuesday  Morning,  Dec.  2.  I  am  reliev'd  from  my 
Anxiety,  by  hearing  that  the  Adventurers  descended  well 
near  1'Isle  Adam,  before  Sunset.  This  Place  is  near  7 
Leagues  from  Paris.  Had  the  Wind  blown  fresh,  they 
might  have  gone  much  farther. 

If  I  receive  any  farther  Particulars  of  Importance  I 
shall  communicate  them  hereafter. 

With  great  Esteem,  I  am,  Dear  Sir,  * 
Your  most  obedient 

&  most  humble  servant, 

B.  FRANKLIN 

P.  S.  Tuesday  Evening. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  receiv'd  the  printed 
Paper  &  the  Manuscript,  containing  some  Particulars  of 
the  Experiment,  which  I  enclose. — I  hear  farther,  that  the 
Travellers  had  perfect  Command  of  their  Carriage,  descending 
as  they  pleas'd  by  letting  some  of  the  inflammable  Air 
escape,  and  rising  again  by  discharging  some  Sand;  that 


16 

they  descended  over  a  Field  sollow  as  to  talk  with  Labourers 
in  passing  and  mounted  again  to  pass  a  Hill.  The  little 
Balloon  falling  at  Vincennes,  shows  that  mounting  higher 
it  met  with  a  Current  of  Air  in  a  contrary  Direction:  An 
Observation  that  may  be  of  use  to  future  aerial  Voyagers. 

Sir  JOSEPH  BANKS,  Bart. 


(SOME  PARTICULARS  OF  THE  SECOND  VOYAGE.) 

Mr.  Le  Chevalier  de  Cubiere  qui  a  suivi  la  marche  du 
Globe  est  arrive"  chez  M.  Charles  hier  £  10  heures  J  du  Soir 
et  a  dit,  Que  les  Voyageurs  etoient  descendus  lentement 
et  volontairement  a  trois  heures  f  dans  les  Marais  de  Nesle 
et  d'Hebouville,  une  lieue  et  demie  apres  1'Isle  Adam.  Us 
y  ont  ete  accueillis  par  Mrs.  le  Due  de  Chartre  et  Fitz 
James,  qui  apres  les  avoir  embrasses,  ont  signe  le  Proces 
verbal  de  lieu  et  d'heure.  Beaucoup  d'  habitants  de  la 
campagne  et  le  cure"  de  Nesle  et  d'Hebouville  se  sont  aussi 
trouves  £  leur  arrivee. 

Les  Voyageurs  ont  assure  n'avoir  e'prouve  que  des  Sen- 
sations agreables  dans  leur  traversee.  Mr.  Robert  e"tant 
sorti  du  Char,  et  aide  de  quelques  Paysans,  se  disposoit 
a  remplacer  sa  Pesanteur  avec  de  la  Terre;  mais  M.  Charles 
voulant  profiter  du  peu  de  Jour  qui  lui  restoit,  pour  faire 
encore  quelques  observations,  impatiente  de  la  Lenteur  de 
cette  operation,  :a,  repris  son  Vol  a  4  heures  et  J,  avec  un  ex- 
ce"dant  de  Legerete  d'environ  100  Livres  par  une  Ascension 
droite  et  une  rapidite  telle  qu'en  peu  de  terns  le  Globe 
s'est  trouve"  hors  de  vue.  La  Chute  du  Jour  1'a  determine" 
a  redescendre  une  lieue  et  |  plus  loin,  aux  environs  de 
Fouroy. 

La  Machine  n'a  e'prouve  aucun  Accident.  Elle  perdoit 
le"gerement  par  une  petite  ouverture  qui  existoit  deja 
quelques  heures  avant  son  Depart  aupres  de  1'appendice, 
et  dont  le  Morceau  de  Taffetas  que  Ton  y  avoit  applique 
au  moment  de  Fexpe"rience,  s'etoit  detache. 


Le  petit  Ballon  est  tombe"  dans  la  Cour  du  Dongeon  a 
Vincennes.  II  a  etc"  ramasse"  par  des  Enfans  et  vendu  6d. 
au  nomme"  Bertrand.  II  avoit  perdu  son  air  inflammable 
par  le  Robinet  qu'on  avoit  laisse  ouvert  expres  pour  em- 
pecher  Fexplosion  a  trop  grande  hauteur.  On  evalue  qu'il 


17 

a  ete  50  minutes  en  1'air.    Le  Taffetas  6toit  roussi  aux 
deux  Extremites. 


NOTES  CONCERNING  THE  LETTERS. 

Letter  of  August  30.  The  hand-writing  is  in  a  more  flowing  style 
than  the  subsequent  letters.  Bigelow  omits  paragraph  ten  beginning 
"It  is  said."  Both  Bigelow  and  Smyth  give  another  paragraph  in  the 
Postscript,  beyond  the  signature  "B.  F."  in  my  copy;  also  a  note  dated 
Sept.  2d,  which  contains  calculations  in  French  relating  to  the  balloon. 
Smyth  says  that  these  additions  are  not  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
draft  but  that  they  occur  in  this  press-copy,  which  is  obviously  a  mistake. 
In  paragraph  two  of  the  Postscript  "mov'd  out,"  in  Smyth,  should  read 
"being  moved  out,"  and  in  the  last  line  but  one  "upon"  should  read 
"up  in." 

Letter  of  October  8.  In  the  eighth  line  after  the  word  "Balloon" 
Smyth  inserts  "lately."  Part  of  the  valedictory  and  the  signature  are 
omitted  by  Bigelow  and  Smyth,  but  the  former  gives  an  "Extract  of 
the  Proposals"  for  the  balloon  of  which  I  have  no  copy. 

Letter  of  November  21.  This  should  be  dated  Nov.  22,  since  the  ascen- 
sion of  d'Arlandes  and  de  Rozier  which,  according  to  the  letter,  took 
place  the  previous  day  is  known  to  have  been  on  the  21st.  The  ortho- 
graphy of  the  French  words  in  Bigelow  and  Smyth  does  not  always 
agree  with  the  copy.  In  paragraph  three,  for  "Post,"  in  Smyth,  read 
"Port;"  in  paragraph  six  for  "Adventures,"  in  Smyth,  read  "Adven- 
turers;" in  paragraph  thirteen  for  "By  the  emulation,"  in  Smyth, 
read  "But  the  Emulation;"  in  paragraph  fifteen  for  the  phrase,  in  Smyth 
and  Bigelow,  beginning,  "I  wish  I  could  see  the  same  emulation," 
correct  to  end,  "between  the  two  Nations  as  I  see  between  the  two 
Parties  here;"  in  paragraph  sixteen,  in  both  Bigelow  and  Smyth,  for 
"Experiment,"  read  "Experience;"  and  for  the  unintelligible  phrase  in 
both  Bigelow  and  Smyth,  "Beings  of  a  frank  and  [sic]  nature,"  read 
"Beings  of  a  Rank  and  Nature."  Minor  discrepancies  between  this  and 
the  other  press-copies  and  the  letters  as  printed  by  Bigelow  and 
Smyth  also  occur.  The  signature  is  in  pencil  in  this  copy.  A  "P.  S. 
Nov.  25th"  is  not  in  the  press-copy,  contrary  to  Smyth's  statement, 
but  I  have  a  press-copy  of  the  French  Proces-Verbal,  therein  referred 
to,  in  Franklin's  handwriting  with  his  name  and  eight  others  affixed 
as  witnesses.  Neither  Bigelow  nor  Smyth  print  this  document,  which 
was  first  reproduced  in  the  book  mentioned  by  Franklin  in  the  first 
paragraph  of  his  letter,  viz:  "Description  des  Experiences  de  la  Machine 
Ae"rostatique  par  M.  Faujas  de  Saint-Fond,  Paris,  1783."  Since  Frank- 
lin's copy  of  the  Proces-Verbal  differs  only  in  his  spelling  the  word 
"sang-froid"  instead  of  " sens-froid, "  I  do  not  print  it.  However, 
other  changes  were  introduced  in  the  Proces-Verbal  when  reprinted  in 
the  second  volume  of  M.  Faujas'  work,  published  in  1784.  Tb«a  plate 


18 


forming  the  frontispiece  to  this  volume  shows  the  balloon  as  seen  from 
Mr.  Franklin's  terrace  at  Passy. 

Letter  of  November  30.  This  has  never  been  published  so  far  as  I  know. 
"The  Journal  of  the  first  Aerial  Voyage,"  here  mentioned,  was  written 
by  the  Marquis  d'Arlandes  to  M.  Faujas  de  Saint-Fond  on  Nov.  28th 
and  first  printed  in  the  Journal  de  Paris  but  was  republished  by  Faujas 
de  Saint-Fond  in  his  second  volume. 

Letter  of  December  1.  Smyth  states  that  he  reproduced  this  letter 
from  my  press-copy  but  he  omits  the  capital  letters  and  the  contractions 
in  spelling,  as  well  as  the  references  "A"  and  "B,"  which  are  given 
by  Bigelow  with  the  remark  that  the  drawings  were  not  found.  "The 
Manuscript,  containing  some  Particulars  of  the  Experiment,  which  I 
enclose,"  mentioned  in  the  Postscript,  is  a  two-page  account  in  French, 
in  Franklin's  handwriting,  by  an  eye-witness  of  the  voyage,  M.  le 
Chevalier  de  Cubiere.  As  this  interesting  document  has  never  been 
published,  to  my  knowledge,  I  have  given  it  here  literatim  from  my 
press-copy. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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